A large Scandinavian study that has been running for 30 years has finally provided convincing evidence that the combined oral contraceptive pill does, indeed, alleviate the symptoms of painful menstrual periods – dysmenorrhoea. The research is published online in Europe’s leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction [1]. Although some previous studies and anecdotal evidence have […]
Global study sheds more light on role played by exercise, cars and televisions on the risk of heart attacks
A worldwide study has shown that physical activity during work and leisure time significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks in both developed and developing countries. Ownership of a car and a television was linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The findings come from the INTERHEART study, […]
Stress in early pregnancy can lead to shorter pregnancies, more pre-term births and fewer baby boys
Stress in the second and third months of pregnancy can shorten pregnancies, increase the risk of pre-term births and may affect the ratio of boys to girls being born, leading to a decline in male babies. These are the conclusions of a study that investigated the effect on pregnant women of the stress caused by […]
New research links endurance exercise to damage in the right ventricle of the heart
Researchers have found the first evidence that some athletes who take part in extreme endurance exercise such as marathons, endurance triathlons, alpine cycling or ultra triathlons may incur damage to the right ventricles of their hearts – one of the four chambers in the heart involved in pumping blood around the body. The research, published […]
Researchers find a way to screen for broad range of cancer-causing genetic changes as part of routine clinical practice, bringing effective personalised medicine a step closer
Researchers in the United States have shown, for the first time, that it is possible to screen cancer patients for a broad range of cancer-causing genetic mutations as part of normal clinical practice. By identifying patients’ individual genotypes within a relatively short time frame, doctors are able to target tumours with the most appropriate therapy. […]
Removal of fibroids that distort the womb cavity may prevent recurrent miscarriages
Researchers have found the first, firm evidence that fibroids are associated with recurrent miscarriages. They have also discovered that if they removed the fibroids that distorted the inside of the womb, the risk of miscarriage in the second trimester of pregnancy was reduced dramatically – to zero. The study, which is published online in Europe’s […]
Researchers discover gene that is mutated in some blood cancers and predicts better survival
Stockholm, Sweden: Geneticists have discovered that a gene involved in the modification of ribonucleic acid (RNA) is mutated in a significant proportion of people with a collection of blood cancers called myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The researchers found that mutations in the SF3B1 gene tended to be associated with a better prognosis, raising the possibility that […]
Chemotherapy during pregnancy does not seem to cause developmental problems in children
Stockholm, Sweden: Children born after their mothers were treated with chemotherapy during pregnancy appear to be unaffected by the experience in terms of the development of their mental processes and the normal functioning of their hearts, according to new research presented at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress [1]. Professor Frederic Amant told the congress: […]
High blood pressure is linked to increased risk of developing or dying from cancer
Stockholm, Sweden: Raised blood pressure is linked to a higher risk of developing cancer or dying from the disease according to the findings of the largest study to date to investigate the association between the two conditions. Dr Mieke Van Hemelrijck told the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress [1] in Stockholm that there had been […]
Unequal access to cancer care can no longer be tolerated: radical change needed to deliver affordable care in developed countries
Stockholm, Sweden: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity worldwide, and its economic burden grows year by year. In 2008, the worldwide cost of cancer due to premature death and disability, excluding direct medical costs, was estimated to be US$895 billion. An expert report from The Lancet Oncology Commission [1], a […]